An Interview With Andy And Runar Of Beyond The Morninglight

Norway's Beyond the Morninglight are a band that toe the line between hard rock and metal. Despite the lack of direct brutality their dark atmosphere clearly puts them in a place to be appreciated by metal fans of nearly all stripes. Beyond the Morninglight are currently offering their entire debut self-titled album for streaming and as a free download through Misantrof Anti-Records. The band is composed of Andy and Runar, who both spoke with me about the band's rock roots and their upcoming album "Liberation."

xFiruath: What first got you into music and made you want to be involved with rock and metal?

Runar: When we grew up we always listened to rock and metal. Bands like Kiss, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Slayer and so on.

Andy: In high school we discovered black metal, but also psychedelic and progressive music like The Doors and Pink Floyd to mention some. We have always wanted to play in bands ourselves.

xFiruath: What made you decide to go with Misantrof Anti-Records, which definitely has a different take on music than the average label?

Runar: During the recordings for our debut album we got to know Vrangsinn because he was the man producing the album for us. He told us that he had started Misantrof Anti-Records.

Andy: One of the things we liked about Misantrof was that we as a band have all the copyrights to our own music. And we decided to sign with Misantrof in October 2009.

xFiruath: Are you currently involved with any other bands or projects?

Runar: Beyond the Morninglight takes up all of our time, so at the moment we are concentrating on making the next album. And that way we get to express ourselves the way we want completely.

xFiruath: Tell me about your debut self-titled album. Where did you record the record?

Andy: The album was recorded in ANP studio and with the Misantrof portable between 2007 and 2008. The album is produced, mixed, and mastered by Vrangsinn.

xFiruath: Is there any one track or segment you like the best on the album?

Runar: It's hard to choose because all the songs are good. It's like you have to choose between your own children to pick the one song we feel is the best but “The Fallen,” “Beyond the Morninglight,” and “Secrets” are the ones we agree on that stand out.

xFiruath: What do the lyrics deal with on the album and is there an overall theme between the tracks?

Runar: Yes the songs are is in a way linked together, dealing with self destruction and despair.

Andy: It's all rock ‘n roll and the way we see the world through our eyes.

xFiruath: Norway has become famous for its influential black metal bands, and these days it seems like every band from the Stavanger area does exclusively black metal, yet you guys went for more of a rock sound. What made you want to go that direction?

Andy: It felt natural at that time. We were experimenting with different kinds of sounds.

Runar: We wanted to involve the organ in the music to get the kind of old ‘70s feeling with the music. And after some time we found the BTM sound we liked.

xFiruath: What’s on the horizon for Beyond The Morninglight? Do you have any upcoming tour dates or recordings planned?

Andy: We're now working on our second album called "Liberation.” It's going to be such a thrill, and it's going to be very good when it's completed.

Runar: The plan is to go back in the studio in the beginning of 2010 and start the recordings with Vrangsinn. We are looking forward to it.

xFiruath: What bands and albums are you currently listening to?

Andy: At the moment I am listening to Moody Blues and their album "In Search of the Lost Chord.” What I like about that album is the musical landscape on it and it's way to make me play it over and over again. It's a very good album.

Runar: The early King Crimson albums, I love the experimental jams and the use of mellotron. And also the Shining albums have been much in the stereo lately.

Ty Arthur is a freelance writer who writes for both entertainment and technical instruction sites. An avid fan of many different forms of metal, he has been involved in reviewing music for several years and is currently a contributing editor for Metalunderground.com